Heather Loses Garrett To Accidental Overdose
The Surviving Siblings®
On Episode 5 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Dr. Heather Taylor, a surviving sibling, therapist, and grief advocate, who shares the story of losing her brother, Garrett, to an accidental overdose, and how that loss completely reshaped her life, her career, and her mission in the grief space. Heather takes us back to her childhood growing up in a small town in Washington State, where she and her younger brother Garrett were raised surrounded by nature, imagination, and a deep sibling bond. They were each other’s constant—playing outside,...
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Erica Loses TJ To A Car Accident
The Surviving Siblings®
On Episode 4 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Erica Bohn, a surviving sibling who shares the story of losing her brother, TJ, in a car accident over 30 years ago, and how that loss shaped her life, her healing, and ultimately her path into helping others. Erica takes us back to her childhood growing up in a close-knit Midwestern family. Both she and her brother TJ were adopted as babies, raised in what she describes as a loving, “perfect” family, until one summer night in 1995 changed everything. TJ, just weeks away from starting his senior...
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Gyani Loses Pete To Cancer
The Surviving Siblings®
On Episode 3 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Gyani, a surviving sibling and grief professional, who shares the story of losing his brother, Pete, to cancer, and how earlier loss in his life shaped the path he walks today. Gyani takes us back to his first encounter with grief at 13, when his father died of cancer. Raised in what he describes as a “Leave It to Beaver” style family. Mom, dad, and five boys—he reflects on how grief rippled through their family system like a bomb, in a time when there were few tools or conversations available to...
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Earla Loses Leigh-Ann To Pancreatic Cancer
The Surviving Siblings®
On Season 9, Episode 2 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host Maya Roffler is joined by Earla Dawn, who shares the story of losing her sister, Leigh-Ann, to pancreatic cancer. Earla takes us back to their childhood on the prairies, four siblings, endless fun, and the kind of relationship that started with “fighting like cats and dogs”… and grew into a deep, lifelong bond. Leigh-Ann was the polished one, the “always put together” sister, a devoted mom, a dog lover, and a woman who reinvented her life, starting over after divorce, and eventually moving across the world to Spain in...
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Stephen Loses Stacy To A Car Accident
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 1 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast® host, Maya Roffler is joined by Stephen Stott who opens up about the tragic loss of his sister, Stacy, to a car accident 24 years ago. Stephen was just 16 when his life changed forever. After being "voluntold" to accompany his sister to a cheerleading camp six hours away, he shared a moment of deep personal truth with her the first person he ever came out to as queer. Just days later, on the drive home, they both fell asleep behind the wheel. Stacy didn’t survive. Stephen did. What follows is a deeply moving story of grief,...
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Chelsey McHale Interviews Maya Roffler On Sibling Loss
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 10 of season 8 of The Surviving Siblings® Podcast, guest host Chelsey McHale takes over the mic to interview podcast founder and host Maya Roffler in a deeply personal and reflective conversation. With 2026 marking 10 years since the loss of her brother Andreas, Maya opens up about what this milestone means to her, how her grief has evolved, and the legacy her brother continues to leave behind through this powerful community. From the early days of navigating violent loss to founding the podcast, the summit, and a thriving support network, Maya shares what she’s learned from...
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Katherine Loses Colin To Cancer
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 9 of Season 8 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host, Maya Roffler sits down with Katherine Mandzak, a writer and advocate, as she opens up about losing her beloved younger brother Colin to a rare and aggressive form of bile duct cancer. From growing up as inseparable homeschool siblings to navigating a shocking cancer diagnosis, Katherine shares the raw reality of becoming the only surviving sibling and how her identity, grief, and life path were forever changed. She walks us through the six-month rollercoaster from diagnosis to hospice, the sacred final moments, and the...
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Dan Loses Patti To Appendicitis
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 8 of Season 8 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host, Maya Roffler speaks with Dan Dunsmore, a devoted brother, father, and educator who shares the heartbreaking story of losing his sister Patti at just 13 years old to a sudden and misdiagnosed case of appendicitis. Dan takes us back to 1968 in South Knoxville, Tennessee, and walks us through the idyllic beginnings of his childhood, followed by a series of devastating family losses, each one reshaping the course of his life. Dan opens up about the traumatic last words he spoke to Patti, the moment he found himself alone in a...
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Dawn Loses Justin To Suicide
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 7 of Season 8 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host, Maya Roffler sits down with Dawn, a surviving sibling who opens up about the unexpected loss of her brother Justin, just weeks before his wedding day. Dawn shares the full arc of their sibling bond, from pranks and family laughter, to the hidden pain Justin carried, to the shock of losing him to suicide in 2013. Through her storytelling, Dawn brings light to the complexities of grief, sibling guilt, the impact of hidden addiction and gambling, and the long road toward healing. This conversation is a tribute to Justin, a...
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Tommy Loses John To Addiction & Tim To Cancer
The Surviving Siblings®
On episode 6 of Season 8 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast®, host, Maya Roffler sits down with Tommy, a surviving sibling who lost two brothers—John to addiction and Tim to cancer. Tommy shares a powerful testimony of family, trauma, guilt, grief, and recovery offering a rare and vulnerable glimpse into what it means to survive sibling loss from two very different but equally devastating causes. Raised in Queens, New York, Tommy opens up about growing up in a family marked by love, loyalty, and generational addiction. He candidly recounts the progression of his brother John's substance use...
info_outlineOn episode 1 of Season 9 of The Surviving Siblings Podcast® host, Maya Roffler is joined by Stephen Stott who opens up about the tragic loss of his sister, Stacy, to a car accident 24 years ago.
Stephen was just 16 when his life changed forever. After being "voluntold" to accompany his sister to a cheerleading camp six hours away, he shared a moment of deep personal truth with her the first person he ever came out to as queer. Just days later, on the drive home, they both fell asleep behind the wheel. Stacy didn’t survive. Stephen did.
What follows is a deeply moving story of grief, identity, movement, and healing. Stephen shares how he turned toward dance, breathwork, and somatic healing not only to honor Stacy’s memory but to help others process grief in their own bodies. He also reflects on his decision to found Embrace the Darkness, a platform and resource space that embraces the hard and sacred work of grief, especially for queer siblings and those needing support outside of traditional therapy.
This episode is about so much more than loss. It’s about grief in the body, safe spaces for queer siblings, and what it means to move with your grief instead of away from it.
In This Episode:
(0:00:00) – Meet Stephen and Remembering Stacy
Stephen shares who Stacy was, their sibling bond through movement, and the moment that changed everything.
(0:04:00) – Movement as Medicine: Honoring Stacy Through Dance
Stephen describes how continuing cheer, gymnastics, and dance helped him stay close to his sister and move through grief.
(0:05:00) – Coming Out and Catastrophe: The Last Conversation
Stephen tells the powerful story of coming out to his sister just days before the fatal car accident. It was the first time he told anyone he liked boys.
(0:06:30) – The Car Accident and Immediate Aftermath
He recalls the surreal moment of waking up in the hospital, already knowing deep in his bones that Stacy was gone.
(0:08:00) – Back to School, No Time to Grieve
Just a week after the accident, Stephen was thrown back into high school, sports, and work using distraction to survive.
(0:11:00) – Survivor Guilt, Queer Identity, and Grieving Alone
Stephen reflects on how his queer identity shaped his grief and how he struggled to find representation and resources.
(0:14:00) – Why Queer Grief Spaces Are Essential
Maya and Stephen dive into why queer-specific grief groups matter, and how judgment—even within sibling spaces can create harm.
(0:21:00) – The Turning Point at 21: A Grief Conference Shifts Everything
Stephen’s mother encouraged him to attend a grief conference, where a simple dance skit helped him feel seen and opened a path toward healing.
(0:25:00) – Becoming a Social Worker and Healing Through Service
Stephen shares how his desire to help others evolved into a career in social work and ultimately into his grief-centered platform.
(0:27:00) – Founding Embrace the Darkness
He explains why toxic positivity doesn’t work, and how this powerful name emerged from his belief that we must sit with the dark to truly heal.
(0:43:00) – Parasympathetic Nervous System & Breathwork as Reset
Maya and Stephen discuss how breathwork activates the vagus nerve and helps shift the body from chaos to calm.
(0:47:00) – The Mission Moving Forward
Stephen talks about his workshops, his work with siblings globally, and his dream to bring more somatic healing into the grief world.
About Embrace the Darkness
Stephen is the founder of Embrace The Darkness, a platform that provides breathwork, sibling grief support, and LGBTQ+-affirming spaces for healing.
Stephen is starting a 6-month program and is offering $1,000 off for any surviving sibling.
The unspoken path community discount: https://embracethedarkness.org/surviving-siblings-podcast-special
This episode is sponsored by Embrace The Darkness
Connect with Stephen:
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Website: https://embracethedarkness.org/
Connect with Maya:
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Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/survivingsiblingspodcast/
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Maya's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayaroffler/
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Website: thesurvivingsiblings.com
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Facebook Group: The Surviving Siblings Podcast
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YouTube: The Surviving Siblings Podcast
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Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheSurvivingSiblingsPodcast